My friend Dave's 18 year old daughter Beth lost her battle with cancer in February. You may recall that it was Beth's charities - The Royal Marsden and The Teenage Cancer Trust which I raised money for through the raffle at my party last October. Beth had become a local celebrity spokesperson for the TCT, so her passing was reported in The Argus which you may have seen. http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/9575513.Family_s_farewell_to_Beth_Ansell/
While googling to find the link, I also came across this article too. 
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/kate-middleton-and-prince-william-saddened-748269

I had only met Beth once, but as I used to work with her Dad I felt I knew her more as you talk about your kids to work mates all the time. Our day together was a few summers back, and as Corin was working in London, and I can't drive (because I'm too scared to even try, in case you don't already know) Dave asked if Aidan and I would like to go to one of those outdoor park places with him and his girls. It was a lovely day which Aidan and I remember well - going down big slides on empty sacks, wall climbing, boating... I spoke to Beth's little sister Bronte at the funeral and I was pleased that she remembered the day well too, and hope that Beth had also.

When Beth became poorly we followed every bit of news on her treatments, and as time went on options were running out. I cannot begin to imagine what it's like to lose a child - other than your worst nightmare. Because of this, despite not being close to Beth, I really want to do something to raise money for her charities.

I've always found Dave such a lovely bloke too. We used to have an allotment and we'd borrow Dave's strimmer which he was always selflessly prepared to drop off and pick up from us.

As I've said above about driving, I'm a big old wuss, so there's no way I'd do anything risky or scary to raise money - parachuting, abseiling etc, uh no! But I don't mind doing something drastic at no risk to me. The only things I can come up with are being sponsored to conquer my bird phobia, though I'm not sure how I'd go about doing that, and though it's scary it is something that I do want to do. Or if I could raise enough money I'd be prepared to shave my head! Despite my hair looking quite nice in my pictures here, it really is a mess, which I'm sure those who see me regularly will agree. I just never get around to having a trim, and only get round to doing my roots when they're a good couple of inches long. But mess or not, I do like having long hair as you can use it to hide behind - those of you with really short hair strike me as having so much confidence to not need a veil! I've pretty much looked the same for the last 25 years, apart from one short cut as I had a dodgy perm at the same time as a dodgy dye job and my head looked like a candy floss, and when I let my hair go back to it's natural colour when Aidan was first born as I didn't want chemicals anywhere in my system while purely breastfeeding. My theory is that it is just hair, it's superficial and it will come back, and others have lost their hair through treatment without a choice. Others feel it's a drastic thing to do, and it is, which is why I'd only do it if I raised enough money. I need to have it long to go and see Madonna in July, but on 10 August, the day after my wedding anniversary, Beth would have been 19. She fought her cancer for 19 months. And my hair is about 19 inches long. If I could raise at least £1,900 I would shave my head.  I ask you to support me. This would be a BIG step and I'm not prepared to look like a peanut for peanuts!  Any donation is welcome - never feel what you can afford isn't enough, it all adds up. Think how many years you've known me with the same hair... maybe you could donate £1 per year, but if you can be more generous please do.

As I said, I didn't know Beth, but I admired her from a far, and I want to help other kids in her position and hope I never ever get to see firsthand where the money we raise goes.

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